This document provides guidance on preparing for and excelling at job interviews. It emphasizes that interviews can happen anywhere and anytime, so one should always be ready. It outlines steps for personal preparation including understanding one's strengths, interests and personality. During the interview, the document advises making a positive first impression, listening attentively, asking questions to assess fit with the role and company culture, and leaving on a positive note. Post-interview follow up and communication with the employer are also highlighted as important factors.

1. SOLVING THESOLVING THE
MYSTIQUEMYSTIQUE OFOF
INTERVIEWINGINTERVIEWING
DESINGED BY

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THE OPPORTUNITYTHE OPPORTUNITY
 Always Be Ready to Interview
 Could Be Casual or Formal
 Could Be in a Store or On a Street Corner
 Could Be at Work or a Social Affair
 Could Be at a Professional or Fun Event
 First Impressions Really Count
Your NextYour Next ““BossBoss”” May Be Beside YouMay Be Beside You
- At An Unexpected Time Or Place- At An Unexpected Time Or Place

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APPROACHAPPROACH
 Personal Preparation
 Modes of Interviewing
 Three Employer Concerns
 Five Critical Questions
 Seven Types of Interviews
 Experiences in Interviews
 Your Readiness
 The Interview
 Closing the Interview
 Post Interview Actions
 The Interview Aftermath

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PERSONAL PREPARATIONPERSONAL PREPARATION
 What Are My Strengths and Weaknesses?
 What Are The Things I Do Well?
 What Are The Things I Like To Do?
 What Are The Things I Dislike Doing?
 What Are My Satisfiers, Constraints and
Needs?
 What Excites Me?
 How Do I Measure Success?
 What Kind of Person Am I?

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What Kind Of Person Am I?What Kind Of Person Am I?
 An 8-5 Person
 An Introvert or Extrovert
 High Energy or Low Energy
 A Leader or Follower
 Easily Bored or a Hater of Routine
 Always "Up" or Easily Dismayed
 Uninterested or Untested
 A Risk Taker

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MODES OF INTERVIEWINGMODES OF INTERVIEWING
 Telephone Screenings
 On-Campus Interview
 On-Site Interview
 Off-Site Interview
 Third Party
 Facility Visit

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THREE EMPLOYER CONCERNSTHREE EMPLOYER CONCERNS
 Skill Concerns
• Can you do the job?
 Personal Characteristics Concerns
• Will you do the job?
• Will you get along well with others?
• Are you manageable?
 Money Concerns
• Can the company afford you?

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FIVE CRITICAL QUESTIONSFIVE CRITICAL QUESTIONS
 What Do You Consider Your Weaknesses?
 What Do You Consider Your Strengths?
 Describe a Failure in Your Professional
Life
 Describe a Success in Your Professional
Life
 Why Are You Leaving Your Current
Position?

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SEVEN TYPES OF INTERVIEWSSEVEN TYPES OF INTERVIEWS
 Layered Questions Interview
• Series of questions designed to
gather information about the “Three
Employer Concerns”
 Performance/Role Play Interview
• Candidate role-plays job functions to
assess specific skills
 Stress Interview
• Intended to put candidate under
stress and assess reactions

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SEVEN TYPES OF INTERVIEWSSEVEN TYPES OF INTERVIEWS
 Informal Interview
• Intended to get the candidate to reveal
more information than they might
otherwise
 Reverse Role Interview
• The candidate becomes the interviewer
 Assessment Instruments Interview
• Various types of techniques are used to
determine if candidate is a good fit

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SEVEN TYPES OF INTERVIEWSSEVEN TYPES OF INTERVIEWS
 Combination Interview
• A combination of two or more interviews

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EXPERIENCES IN INTERVIEWSEXPERIENCES IN INTERVIEWS
 Committee or Group Interview
 Committee Broken Into Smaller Groups
 Face-to-face
 Assessment Testing
 Screening (Drug, Polygraph, Background
Check)
 Odd Requests (Presentations, Description
of Box)

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YOUR INTERVIEW READINESSYOUR INTERVIEW READINESS
 Understand Yourself
• Likes & dislikes
• Things I like to do
• Things I do well
• Goals & objectives
• Personal drivers
 Gain Company's Vital Signs
 Research Your Interviewers and Company
Officers

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YOUR INTERVIEW READINESSYOUR INTERVIEW READINESS
 List Your Questions
• What is company mission?
• What is company culture?
• What is work environment?
• Explain org chart & responsibilities
• What is it like to work here?
• How do I fit in?
• How do you plan my intake?
• Other – perhaps personal needs

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Are You Excited? . . .
You’d Better Be!

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THE INTERVIEWTHE INTERVIEW
 Knock Off The Anxiety
• Gain a fun mindset and exude
confidence
• First impressions count
 Turn Off Your Communications Gear
 Read Your Interviewer
• Who will talk most?
• Introvert vs. extrovert?
• Make him/her be the talker
• Understand their role and how they fit in
• Is he/she excited about this?

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THE INTERVIEWTHE INTERVIEW
 If In Their Facility
• Ask for time with associate
• Ask for lunch in cafeteria
• Keep eyes & ears open
• Listen to gossip – what do they talk
about?
• Be shown your workplace
• Have a facility tour
• Is this a cheerful place?

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THE INTERVIEWTHE INTERVIEW
 This is a two-way process
 Be Honest, Sincere and Ethical
 Be Gracious, Show Interest
•Your interviewer may hate to
interview; could be a great company
 Don't Try To Overwhelm Or Fake
Anyone With Your Knowledge or Your
Measurement of Personal Self-Worth
(Super-sized Ego)
•They could be the sharpest knife in
the drawer or a power broker

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THE INTERVIEWTHE INTERVIEW
 Observe, Listen, Observe
• Place clean or cluttered?
• Are people happy?
• Rest room conversation?
Do You Want to Work Here?

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CLOSING THE INTERVIEWCLOSING THE INTERVIEW
 Clarify Job Responsibilities and Your
Accountabilities
 Review Your Related Qualifications
 Assure Mutual “Understanding of
Expectations” – Yours and Theirs
 Ask Other Job Related Questions
• What are the measures of success for
the position?
• What are your immediate goals for the
position?

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CLOSING THE INTERVIEWCLOSING THE INTERVIEW
 Ask If There Will Be Other Interviews
• What is the next step?
 Ask for a Business Card From Each
Person With Whom You Interviewed
 Always Leave on a Positive, Assuming,
Winning Note

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CLOSING THE INTERVIEWCLOSING THE INTERVIEW
 What NOT To Do:
• Don’t ask about salary or benefits
before the employer does
• Don’t call into question the employer’s
ethics
• Don’t ask for an evaluation of your
interviewing skills
• Don’t be negative

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POST INTERVIEW ACTIONSPOST INTERVIEW ACTIONS
 Follow-up Communications
• Oral and written
 Position Acceptance/Rejection
• Oral and written
 Human Resources Organization
• Do not circumnavigate them unless
you have prior approval from them

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